Chapter 27: A Cruel World

(CORRINE)

Rothan doesn’t push me.

We walk for several hours before I need a break. He has some food with him that he gives me.

“You seem convinced that Locke ordered my execution,” I say to him. “How do you know that for a fact?”

He doesn’t meet my gaze as he chews on some dried meat. “I saw the letter with his seal on it.”

The taste of the meat in my mouth turns to ash. Rothan has no reason to lie to me. And if he’s bringing me to Locke—

“You don’t think he will let me live, do you?”

Rothan is silent for a few moments. “I don’t know what the king will decide. There is a chance he will send you somewhere. None of what happened was your fault. He knows that.”

“There’s also a chance he will kill me, though, isn’t there?” I smile wearily at him.

“I don’t want to mislead you.”

“I appreciate your honesty, Rothan.”

In this dire situation that I am now caught up in, I am even lucky to have Rothan by my side. With Sigrid gone, he is the only person in the world that has a little of my trust now. I trust him to keep me alive, even though it isn’t within his power to do that. At least he shares the same optimism to keep me alive. I can work with that, for now.

This makes it easier for me to make my next decision. I cannot go to Locke. I don’t have time to examine how I feel about knowing for certain that my fated mate ordered my execution. The same man who told me I was safe, who kissed my forehead before sleeping.

If there is truly a child inside me, I can’t take the chance.

A strangled laugh leaves my mouth. “The world is a cruel place. Isn’t it, Rothan? I know Locke didn’t love me. How could he? But I think I loved him. I think I loved him deeply. And I don’t know why.”

I bury my face in my hands, suddenly finding the whole thing both saddening and amusing.

“I just did. I loved how he looked after me even when he scolded me. He made sure I ate on time. He gave me the greenhouse. He checked that I was warm when I was in bed.”

Sighing, I lower my hands and stare straight ahead. “Yes, I loved him. But I know he didn’t love me. Which is why it must have been very easy for him to order my death.”

“I’m sure that’s not true, Miss Corrine.”

I sigh again, smiling down at the ground. “You don’t have to pacify me. I don’t need assurances. I know his heart. He told your mother that he didn’t want to have a child with me. He told Bella that I was just a tool. In fact, he told me several times that I was a placeholder, a substitute. I believed all those things. I also believe that he only took care of me because he had to. And now, he’s got the real princess. My death will be a relief to him. Maybe it will be a relief to me, as well.”

When Rothan protests, I smile broadly at him. “I’m not upset. I should’ve expected this. Don’t think I’m whining about it. I’ve accepted my fate. I hope he’s very happy with Princess Ravenna. At least with her, his children will carry the royal bloodline and keep it pure.” I get to my feet. “Let’s keep going.”

Rothan looks like he wants to say something, but he holds his tongue. As we walk, he makes sure to stay a few steps ahead of me, which gives me plenty of opportunity to inspect Freya’s bracelet.

As we approach the Misty Forest, it begins to glow.

“Once we reach the forest, how do we know where Locke is?” I ask curiously.

“There will be some guards there. You will stay with them, and I’ll fetch the king. These things should be done privately.”

He means my execution. He’s trying to spare my dignity. How sweet.

Then, bitterness flows through me. Or maybe it’s the king’s dignity he’s trying to protect.

As we approach the forest, I see a small hut. There are two men sitting there, roasting something on a fire. Rothan calls out to them and lifts his hand. They look surprised to see him but abandon their food and approach us.

“Rothan! What are you doing here?”

“Do you know where the king is?”

“Fighting on the border. Near the Veil. There was an outbreak there. Who is this?”

Rothan exchanges a look with me. Clearly, the information hasn’t spread.

“No one,” he says, shooting me an apologetic glance. I don’t mind.

“I’ll stay here while you fetch the king.” My bracelet is glowing brighter, and I hide it under my cloak.

“I’ll be back.” Rothan nods at me before hurrying off into the distance.

The two guys look me up and down before one of them says, “Are you a maid?”

I shake my head. “I am a messenger. If you don’t mind, I’d like to relieve myself.”

The guards look uncomfortable. “There are no facilities in the hut, but if you go over there, to the edge of the forest, it’s still safe. Just use the bushes on the outskirts. Don’t enter past the marker.”

I was hoping that was what they would say. They’ve just made this so much easier for me. “Excuse me, then. Please don’t look.”

The two men flush and turn their backs to me. I head to the edge of the forest, and my heart beats with excitement as I see the glow of the bracelet intensifying. It’s pulling me toward the trees.

Coming to stand at its edge, I look at the gloomy-looking forest. Monsters are roaming in there. Sigrid once told me that nobody has ever survived this place.

I swallow. I’ll take my chances. Because this is the only option that I have left. I’m sure the other parts of the Veil are properly guarded. Nobody’s going to let me through anywhere else.

Throwing one last look over my shoulder, I disappear into the Misty Forest.

Goodbye, Locke.

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